Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: I know right?

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 11-28-2005, 12:51 AM:

Just curious, is this stupid saying popular only in the south, or is it everywhere?

Here is an example of such a conversation...
ME - The sound in that auditorium was phenomenal!
HIM - I know right? The bass was totally thumpin'.
ME - So what did you think of the movie? I thought it was great.
HIM - Yeah I know right?
ME - Ummmm, yeah. I'm going to have to give that one a second viewing.
HIM - I know right?
ME - Yeah, right, pretty cool?
HIM - I know right?
ME - I know right? (saying this at this point out of curiosity to his response)
HIM - I know right?

Is there something about this saying that turns someone into a brainless vegetable? What exactly is this supposed to mean anyway? I know people who can't make it through 5 minutes without saying "I know right?" at least 20 times. The whole 1980s overuse of the word "like" was bad enough. (Example - "I like went to like the store to like pick up some cool like fresh tomatoes like yummmmm.")

Where did this come from???

Posted by Shane Cooper (Member # 2510) on 11-28-2005, 01:07 AM:

When I was managing in the Chicagoland area, I had an entire management team that used this constantly! For this reason I would not say that it is exclusive to the South.

Pop phrases are like fashion, Afros and most movies these days - they may go away for a little while, but they always find a way to be recycled.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 11-28-2005, 01:21 AM:

...kinda like saying "n'stuff" practically at the end of every other sentence.

I called it, more or less, a nervous, subconscious reaction - probably something like "baby blabber."

-Monte

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 11-28-2005, 02:08 AM:

I haven't heard that one here. And I'm around lots of young people daily on five campuses.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 11-28-2005, 02:10 AM:

Usually when someone agrees 'round these parts it's just "I know!". We drop the "right" for sake of speed and efficiency. But we don't use it after every sentence we agree with. Other phrases we use in the same situation to mix things up are "Hell yeah!", "No shit!", "Oh totally!", and "I had sex with your mom last night".

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 11-28-2005, 02:22 AM:

Maybe it hasn't made it east of Texas.

"Yeah you rite!" <- Louisiana
"A'ight now" <- TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL
"I hear you" or "I heard that!" <- midwest, southeast
"Uh huh" <- universal

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 11-28-2005, 02:37 AM:

The kiddies who are into hard rock/metal around here like to say 'Thats SICK!' when something is good. [uhoh]

I have a bad habit of saying 'sweet', but not in a stoner 'Dude Where's My Car' type of way. And the oldie but goodie "cool". But thats as far as I go when it comes to slang terms. Probably because I'm not cool. [Big Grin]

Posted by Dan Lyons (Member # 1454) on 11-28-2005, 03:38 AM:

Never heard it around here.

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 11-28-2005, 04:15 AM:

Only place I heard it before was in the movie 'Mean Girls'.

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 11-28-2005, 04:45 AM:

Not that I've paid it much mind, but "I know, right?" is sometimes heard in these here parts.

I'm boggled at how much the "Valley Girl" use of the superfluous "like" is still everywhere in this state today. Or maybe it's just the OC. It was hardly an eighties thing.

Ooh, and how about the ever-popular two-syllable contraction of the query, "Do you know what I am saying?" I can't hear that one enough! Know'm'sayin'? [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 11-28-2005, 04:54 AM:

Must be South Texas. I dont ever hear that phrase in the deep south.

KnowwhutI'msayn?

Posted by Don Furr (Member # 1469) on 11-28-2005, 06:45 AM:

I've been in Atlanta since 1991 and have never heard that before. Spent a lot of time in Florida and don't remember hearing that expression down there either. On the other hand, I have heard...."I know that's right"....in Georiga for several years. Does that count???? [Wink]

Don

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 11-28-2005, 06:53 AM:

What really gets on my nerve is "I am not sure" or even worse, "I am not exactly sure". People say that here all the time.
What?
Yes or no?
Do you know or don't you?

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 11-28-2005, 11:17 AM:

I think there's a definite distinction between knowing something "yes", not knowing "no", and having an answer/opinion/idea but not being sure whether it's the best response or not "I'm not [exactly] sure". Now, if the person is saying "I'm not sure" and then from the rest of the conversation it's obvious that it's just one of their "phrases" (in fact s/he IS sure, one way or the other) then ... yes I could see that being annoying.

As for "I know, right?" ... I remember that from my high school days (class of 1994 - in the Chicago 'burbs), but I can't say that I've heard it all that much lately.

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 11-28-2005, 11:59 AM:

People use it all the time down here. My wife says it alot. Brad, are you calling my wife stupid? If you are, I'll let it slide until she walks up behind me one day reading this thread, then I have to defend her. Till then, carry on.

Posted by Paul J. Neuhaus (Member # 3205) on 11-28-2005, 12:19 PM:

Not to get on a George Carlin kick but he is right here. Weak language for weak minds. Say what ya came to say and or shut your damn mouth!!

I don't think it is as much geography as it is gene content.

When I was in Alabama and here in North Carolina people say "mash" instead of "push" i.e. "What happens when I mash this button?"

Grade A+ School system we have going here.......I know right?!

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 11-28-2005, 12:28 PM:

The only thing I can think of around here that people say too much is "Basically." I never heard "I know, right" before.

The kids say "we schooled 'em" instead of "we won the game." Or "We got schooled" in place of "we lost."

Posted by Dieter Depypere (Member # 3184) on 11-28-2005, 01:24 PM:

Never heard that term, yet here in Austria there are similar "phrases". Examples: "Ga" or "Gell" if you expect others to say yes; or "wast" (=Weisst --> you know) and stuff like that. Also varies by community. [Wink]

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 11-28-2005, 02:40 PM:

quote: Allison Parsons
The kiddies who are into hard rock/metal around here like to say 'Thats SICK!' when something is good.

Similar principle to using 'wicked', 'evil' etc. as synonyms for 'highly fashionable/desirable', I guess. Maybe it's a subculture issue - what the mainstream finds a bad thing your subculture finds a good thing, hence your using antonyms as synonyms is a way of indicating that you're part of that subculture; a member of the club, so to speak.

Sorry if that doesn't make a lot of sense - I think I know what I mean, anyhow... [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 11-28-2005, 02:57 PM:

That phrase is unknown to Kentucky.....it hasn't arrived yet.

I think of the South as "Done cha no?" land. Louis

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 11-28-2005, 04:28 PM:

quote: Jeremy Fuentes
Brad, are you calling my wife stupid?

She married you, didn't she?

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 11-28-2005, 05:16 PM:

When someone says "Ya know what I'm sayin?"
I say "Yes, I speak english"

Usually they stop saying it to me after a few times.

Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 11-28-2005, 05:17 PM:

forreal?

I was unaware of the existence of the word kiddycorner until several years ago. I didn't feel like having to say "around the corner and down the block" was that troubling.

Posted by Bruce Hansen (Member # 281) on 11-28-2005, 06:24 PM:

Havn't heard it here in Atlanta.

quote: Greg Mueller
When someone says "Ya know what I'm sayin?"
I say "Yes, I speak english"

Good one, Greg. [thumbsup]

I'm going to have to remember that one.

About the "I'm not sure" thing, I would rather tell someone that I am not sure, then give them what might be a wrong answer.

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 11-28-2005, 09:11 PM:

quote: Greg Mueller
Usually they stop saying it to me after a few times.

Well, some people will not take the hint. [Wink]

Weird Al & Eminem (Windows Media)

The first minute of this is classic. [thumbsup]

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 11-29-2005, 06:27 AM:

quote: Daryl C. W. O'Shea
She married you, didn't she?

You son of a bitch.. [Big Grin]

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 11-29-2005, 07:43 AM:

One of the guys that was a technician for Century theatres used to always say "You Know It" when he agreed with something that had been stated. Never figured out where he picked up that expression from.

quote: Jeremy Fuentes
I'll let it slide until she walks up behind me one day reading this thread

Get a Privacy Screen to put over the monitor that way she will have to be directly behind you to see it.

quote: Daryl C. W. O'Shea
She married you, didn't she?

Have to admit that was a good one Daryl [Wink]

, But since I have meet Jeremy in person I will have to say he is good people so she can't be all that stupid. [thumbsup]

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 11-29-2005, 03:07 PM:

I grew up on Long Island and in Florida, and I heard "I know, right?" in both places. I have to say that I find myself saying it from time to time.

About a month after I moved out here from Florida last year, some coworkers and I went out to lunch. I remember being extremely thirsty, and as soon as the waitress came to take our drink order, without even thinking about it, I said "I'm wicked thirsty!" She said, "You must be from the east coast." I asked how she knew, and she said "Because you said 'wicked.'"

That sparked a whole discussion about regional slangs. One of the guys said that I would hear people out here say, "Flip a bitch" to refer to making a u-turn. I laughed so hard. I couldn't imagine that phrase actually being used. Sure enough, one of my friends uses it all the time.

That same friend also uses "sick" all the time. But I've never heard either expression from anyone other than him.

Certain slang expressions are probably more localized than others. "I know, right?" seems to be pretty common. But "flip a bitch" is not, as I have never heard it until I moved to California.

I use "sweet" all the time. I never heard that growing up in New York, but heard it all the time in high school in Florida. Guess that's where I got it from.

Posted by Wolff King Morrow (Member # 2226) on 11-29-2005, 03:35 PM:

I never heard of "Flip a bitch" before, but I have heard that when you have to squeeze three people into the cab of a pickup truck, the one sitting in the middle is know to be "riding bitch". If you're riding shotgun in that situation, you can mess with the driver and bitch-rider by ducking your head down to make it look like they are a couple sitting close together. The downside is you may find yourself walking.

Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 11-29-2005, 08:02 PM:

I don't think I've ever heard "I know, right" in Alabama. Is it said as a question or a sentence without the "question" tone?

"Used to could" is an infectious one that I keep finding myself saying.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 11-29-2005, 09:06 PM:

We used to say "flip a jew" for a u-turn all the time. I think it was a goof on a Spanish accent though... certainly nothing against people of the Jewish faith. I've heard "flip a bitch" around here but more people say "flip a you-ee." (Why not just "turn around?")

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 11-29-2005, 11:32 PM:

I remember my mom saying "flip a you-ee" or "make a you-ee" when I was growing up. Never heard anyone else say it.

Posted by Ramin Hashemi (Member # 2694) on 11-30-2005, 06:07 PM:

I have been living in Houston TX for 11 years and do not remember hearing it.

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 11-30-2005, 06:43 PM:

quote: Me
I grew up on Long Island and in Florida, and I heard "I know, right?" in both places. I have to say that I find myself saying it from time to time.

I never really noticed how much I say it until this thread came up. Now every time I say it I take mental note of it. I probably said it more than a dozen times yesterday and today. Guess I say it more than I thought.

Here's another one: "my bad." Never heard that one growing up in NY, but heard it all the time in Florida. Couldn't stand it at first, but now I say it all the time.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 11-30-2005, 07:40 PM:

I've never heard "I know right"; must be a southern thing. I didn't hear "my bad" until I went to college in Virginia, having grown up in Massachusetts.

For those who might be visiting the Commonwealth, I can recommend the Wicked Good Guide to Boston English.

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 11-30-2005, 08:30 PM:

Just noticed myself when talking with some of my younger staff.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 12-01-2005, 03:33 AM:

Never heered it, either.

I have heard a lot of ya know's in my life, though.

Ya know?

Posted by Floyd Justin Newton (Member # 1316) on 12-01-2005, 12:43 PM:

I don't KNOW... tell me, TELL ME!!

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 12-01-2005, 05:30 PM:

A knew a guy in Houston who used to end EVERY FRIGGIN' SENTENCE with, "Yunna-stan whaum sayn'?" Without fail. I finally got so annoyed that I started snapping back, "YES! Yes, I understand!!!" That seemed to get the message across.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-01-2005, 09:26 PM:

Children today (and ONLY children, absolutely NO mature people do this) absolutely love saying "You know what I'm saying" or some variation of that after nearly every sentence, as if what they are saying is extremely complex and over the heads of the general population when it is, in fact, quite moronic.

I like to respond with, "No, I really don't know what you're saying. Could you tell me again?" But you have to do that EVERY TIME they say the phrase without fail. Another thing that PISSES ME OFF is when people emphasize parts of their sentence by typing in all caps. What's up with morons who do this?

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 12-02-2005, 01:08 AM:

quote: Scott Norwood
I've never heard "I know right"; must be a southern thing.

Hey, members from NC, GA, KY & AL just reported that it's not in currency in those states nor MS & LA. So far, only southern states reported to have it in use are TX & FL.

It HAS been reported outside the southeast in IL, CA, & Lawn Guyland NY.

Some people just hard-headed.

This study was funded by the Michael Coate OCD Institute For Counting Every Damn Thing.

Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 12-02-2005, 11:29 PM:

quote: William Hooper
Some people just hard-headed.

I know, right?

quote: Mike Blakesley
"flip a jew"

A buddy of mine (who is Jewish) would say "honk a jew" for a U-turn.